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366( 38). Two brothers hated one another. Asked by thefather the eldest said he knew no reason, but he woulddrink a cup of his brother's blood. The younger saidhe had no hatred at all. The father, fearing lest some evilbefall the latter advised him to leave the town. He tookhis father's advice and came to a place where the gateswere locked. He knocked at the gate and was met by theprinces, the great men hailing him as king. He first thoughtthey were mocking him but they told him that the kinghaving died without leaving issue, in order to settle strifeamong the great, they had decided to appoint as king thefirst man who knocked at the gates and he had been thefirst man. So he became king. After a time he wanted tosee his parents and for that purpose he threatened to in-vade the country where they were living. The king of thatland, who was peaceloving, decided to send a deputation,but all his officers refusing, he selected by lot one of theJews. It fell upon the father who, being old, sent his son.The king recognised his brother and after rebuking him forhis unreasonable hatred sent a message to the other kingto send the father of the messenger. On that conditionalone could peace be established. The old man went; theson told him what had happened and they all lived happilyever after. He was thus rewarded for obeying his father'swishes.

367( 40). A man should never allow himself to be carriedaway by passion. A man going on a long journey for thepurpose of trade left his wife with child. He remained awaymany years. When he came back he found his wife embra-cing and hugging a young man. Full of fury he wanted tokill them but restrained himself. Afterwards he made him-self known and found to his great joy that the young manwas his son whom the wife had borne after his departure.368( 55). Of two brothers one was rich and the otherpoor. One day the latter, gathering up all the citrons( Ethrogim) left after the festival of Tabernacles, went on aship to a distant country to try his luck. His fellow pas-

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